The regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP) was initiated following the large-scale population movements registered throughout Europe in 2015. During 2016, a further 347,000 refugees and migrants have arrived in Europe, in addition to the over one million refugees and migrants that undertook the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea in 2015. In 2017, the [...]

During November, winter preparations were progressing rapidly on the islands and mainland Greece. In coordination with the Authorities, from a total of 54 sites in the mainland (11 not active), UNHCR proceeded to upgrading and maintenance of the infrastructure in 15 among them, expanding its support in several others beyond that number. As of end November, [...]

Winterization activities, in preparation for the harsh weather ahead, started on 18 October, to the benefit of 47,382 asylum-seekers in Greece. An estimated total of 109,513 winter items were distributed in 47 mainland sites and five islands. 234 containers were installed in various sites, including Katsikas, Nea Kavala, Filippiada and Alexandria. In Kara Tepe and [...]

On the mainland, asylum seekers are increasingly concerned with the prospect of a long waiting period for full registration interviews while living in substandard conditions, and experiencing upcoming winter at the sites. In close coordination with the Office of the Alternate Minister of Migration Policy and thanks to funding from the European Commission – Humanitarian Aid, UNHCR [...]

UNHCR undertook discussions with communities in the sites throughout mainland Greece to implement small scale community-based projects, meeting the requests and needs identified by communities. The permanence of refugees in sites not meeting the minimal standards in most of the sectors and with unclear perspective is progressively hampering the relations within the refugee community. It was [...]

On the mainland, the design of the government’s plan to progressively close some accommodation facilities and reduce the number of refugees in others is ongoing, also thanks to the gradually expanding accommodation of asylum seekers in rented apartments and hotels through UNHCR’s Accommodation for Relocation project. At the same time, new sites are being established in the mainland. [...]